THERE has been an increasing trend of vloggers/YouTubers visiting TT to showcase gang culture and violence.
Typically, they visit areas deemed crime hotspots, saying their intent is to “show the good” despite the negative reputation. However, more recently, these videos have caught the attention of the police as civilians have been openly bearing firearms, saying they are in gangs and discussing their involvement in ongoing wars.
The public has been generally divided on this issue. Some think the vloggers are using or taking advantage of people of a lower socio-economic class for likes and views, while others support them, saying they are showing there is more to these areas than violence, as well as showcasing reality.
So far, for 2024, YouTubers Shai “Coco Boy” Noymark, Timmy Karter, and Chris Must List have visited TT and done these videos, which have racked up millions of views. Each of them also did several non-gang-related videos while here, which did not get as many views. They have also done these types of videos in several other countries. Noymark is from Israel, Karter is from Greece and Chris is from Canada.
A similar video was done in 2014 by international media outlet Vice News, which now has over nine million views. It is titled Corruption, Cocaine and Murder in Trinidad.
Vloggers defend their content
Karter’s video, titled Deep into the Caribbean's Deadliest Hood, has over 1.8 million views. He documented a visit to Laventille, where many locals in downtown Port of Spain urged him not to go.
Residents of the communities told him while there is a negative stigma about both areas, they are guided by peace and love. Among the people he spoke to was Trinibad artiste Kashif “Kman 6ixx” Sankar.
A man featured in the first video called “El Chapo” told Karter although many call Sixx/6ixx a gang, it is just a Trinibad music movement. However, he added, those on the “Seven side” have issues with people from his area. He also showed Karter one of his guns, which he said is for protection. He then warned him not to go over “to the other side” because as a tourist, they would rob him while they kill him.
Speaking to Newsday, Karter said he had never heard about TT before and, “When I don’t know about a place (country), I love it. It’s a bit risky because you don’t know if there’s a demand for (content from that country on YouTube).
“I like doing this. I go (to these places) and my goal is to show that it’s not only about gangs. There are families and humble people living there. All these places have very humble people that also deserve attention.”
He said some locals told him he would get kidnapped and killed if he went to Laventille.
“The crime situation in my home country is ten times worse. Because it’s Europe, people think it’s a paradise but it’s terrible – it’s dangerous as well.”
[caption id="attachment_1085690" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A screengrab from a YouTube video by Chris Must List on gang violence in TT. -[/caption]
Many took issue with the title of his video. H
